How to Repair Dark Spots on iMac 4K or 5K Screens

How to fix apples major design flaw that causes dark spots on most Retina iMac 4K and 5K models. To replace this screen it would cost over $400. To perform this fix, it cost you nothing more than a lint free cloth.

[@Reldeifekirneh]

THANK YOUU!!!! My iMac 2017 27" 5K screen looks flawless again! It was easyer than I thought. I did not remove the tape on the cables. Only the tape that covered the screws. Then I used a lint free wipe and a drop of distilled water to clean the LCD panel and the diffusor. Then I removed the dust particles that got inside while I was working on it. I used a sticker that came with a screen protector for my phone. I cant't believe how perfect it turned out! It looks like new! Thank you once again!!

[@emmyelijah7395]

Probably one of two videos on KZbin that even bother to tackle this issue. A *BIG THANK YOU*

[@vigneshnarasimhan8331]

Thanks! Just fixed mine. Adding another tip here: Remember to clean the polariser (white film) too! I had to open mine twice because I only cleaned the glass the first time.

[@gibsonden2]

I finally did this on my 2015 27, 5k and it was even simpler then this and looks as it should, amazing! Thanks for the video. I didn’t need to remove the tape on the wire. I sliced the tape on the edges and removed screws on both sides and bottom, that lifted the same as yours. Easy. I just need a tape that will be good to cover it back up.

[@MusicPerson233]

I just bought a imac 2019 upgraded with 32 gigs of ram and 1tb of ssd , for $250 because the previous owner thought it would be to expensive to fix. Thanknyou

[@AnonTubeUser123]

Successfully completed this project. Thank you so much for making this video it was extremely helpful. Converting my 27 inch 5K iMac to an external display. I had pretty large noticeable spots in the bottom two corners extending towards the middle - one of which was about 6 inches in length. These spots have always bothered me and have definitely been increasing in size over the last year. Very glad I came across this video while I had the screen off. Hoping they don't return with my display acting as an external monitor without fans. Best of luck to anyone else taking on this project!

[@anthonyphillips1833]

Thank you so much for making this video. I bought a 2017 4k iMac off of Craigslist with this exact issue, however it was top spec with 3.6ghz processor, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD. I got it for only $250 due the dark spots issue. After, I found your video and was able to completely fix it. I feel like I got the deal of the century with these specs. Thanks again for taking the time to make this video. Btw I found you only really have to remove the tape on the bottom edge of the screen. On the sides, you can just cut the tape using your finger nail and it pulls apart easily when you lift it up

[@arcziramm]

Fixed! All is well , nice and clean :) Highly recommend :)

[@olidobolli]

oh thank you sir very much, been googling a while to find the fix and here it is!

[@googlenutzer8768]

Thanks for your helpful video! Just repaired my iMac Pro with the same problem! I found a helpful repair set on amazon for 13€, that contained an opening cutting wheel, two suction cups and the right adhesive tape to put everything back together. I saved a lot on expensive repair costs and even more important: I did not have to send in my working computer for several days.

[@Zaimejs]

I love listening to your description because this is exactly what I have seen with my iMac... this growing fungus.

[@Nealzaej]

Thanks for this video. Just did this on a late 2012 27 inch. Had to do it twice because the first time I closed it up the paper film was not perfectly flat to the glass and had a wavy pattern from the corner of the screen. Second attempt fixed it now its all good.

[@RadoslavSharapanov]

Same model, same problem. Figured it's glued and would need to buy a new panel. Just learned there is a free, easy solution. Thanks!

[@MGalaxy]

Great job. How is that this video has so little views...

[@TysTech]

Haha, right? I have no idea. It’s such a simple fix for such a massive and widespread issue.

[@Sijtze22]

Just noticed these marks coming up, your video was the first I clicked and its spot on. Going to procrastinate fixing the problem cause Im hesitant to open my imac up again... But thanks for the video.

[@code-peace3818]

I could have written this, exactly my story 4 years later 🙂

[@jharwinbarrozo]

Gonna download your video and save it somewhere. Because I am already seeing faint cloudy smudges at the bottom right and left of my imac 27" 2017. Thank you big time for this guide!

[@faheemhameed]

Thanks for this video. I have the same issue with my iMac 2017 5K. I am wondering if it's possible to fix the issue without opening the panel.

[@blindzero00]

I searched for an explanation/solution for days and nothing...until I found your video! Thank you. Sad thing is that I just changed the hard drive some weeks ago, and now I have to remove the screen again.

[@TysTech]

Same exact scenario happened to me! It’s such a pain to take these apart.

[@maikkaune]

The crucial search keyword is "clouding"! ;)

[@yaseenyaseen24]

Why do we need to fix this by our own if it's very clear that this is a design flaw? I also had my display replaced two times under warranty back in 2014 (27 iMac late 2013). Could somehow address this MAJOR issue to apple? They had a lot of recalls in the past for other problems (keyboards, GPU, etc.), but the screen issue seems not to be that important for them.

[@xmetaldome]

This has been there in the iMac since the slim/tapered version came out in late 2012. I got the display replaced under warranty but it came back again. I read somewhere its a design flow, so I visited several authorise store selling Apple products (India), every store that had imac had that cloudy shading in the corner, even the imac 4K & 5K. It is a design flaw, possibly due to air circulation. If anyone is going that length to open and repair it, i suggest, try to seal that area and see if that works. I wanted to try, but i sold mine and switched to MacBook Pro. I wished i had seen this video earlier back then, woud've given me more confidense to repair it myself, probably permanently.

[@mindful1044]

Thanks for kindly sharing your wisdom sir!

[@KVFISHHHHH]

Thank you for your guidance! Really appreciated!!!!!!!

[@Coco_Sultan]

Starting to see it faintly on my 2019 iMac, ridiculous issue considering what one pays. It is out of warranty , so I will have to muster up the confidence to try it eventually. Thank you for the video.

[@dogflirt]

big THANK YOU for covering this!!!!!!!

[@manyetikmerkez]

Thanks, brother you saved my 100 dollars for sharing that

[@mertleaciklama]

kardeş selam, yaptıysan detay verir misin ya lütfen

[@Nightwatch694]

Do you have to buy adhesive to hold the screen back on after you are done. thanks for the video.

[@bananaorangeguy5277]

do you know how to fix the display got damaged during the the process of taking it off in which the display developed a blank column when it turns on?

[@slashedbeauty]

How is this still a problem on my 2020 mac 🧐 ughh

[@pnk4444]

Dude .. unreal .. Great Find .. i have same model .. crazy .. i have the issues very slight ..but there ..wow

[@missodessaTV]

I have these spots on the bottom corners on my imac. I have 2 other imacs right next to it but it's the only one with the smudges and I noticed it maybe a year into having it, it's about 2 years old now (2019 model) I saw some forums dating back to 2011 of people having this same issue. I honestly dont understand how apple can keep pumping out products that have such big flaws when they have had 10 years to make sure this doesnt happen or at least offer free repairs despite being out of warranty since its a design flaw on their part. Im not brave enough to take this mac apart otherwise I would clean my screen myself.

[@andyliu1210]

Thank you so much for sharing this. I just bought the proper tools to open the iMac 27" 2012 (slim). I'm about to change to SSD and possibly fix the "smudge" as well. I will reply to my own comment once I get it done. Thank you again sir for the share.

[@FaeriBee]

Andy Liu ever get it fixed?

[@andyliu1210]

@@FaeriBee not yet, but I did get the SSD in place without much of an hassle.

[@idealynx]

Great video, Tyler! I just noticed this on my iMac Pro, which, thankfully, is still under warranty. I wonder if Apple Authorized Service Providers are cleaning the screens as you did or replacing them. If anyone knows, please post a reply here. Also, has anyone confirmed that this is dust, or is it something else? Thanks, again.

[@getupsolucoesmultimedia1638]

I have a iMac pro also. Apple had replaced my screen two Times now. And i already have to replace it again

[@orion98mc92]

Thanks for the video. Do you know if this would work as well on a late 2015 retina 5k iMac? I have dust in the lower left corner of the screen, went to the Apple Store where a "Genius" said to me there were no other cases besides mine :)...

[@georgemakalatia5616]

is there apple service program for replacing out of warranty Imac pros?

[@BojanBojovic]

Thanks, great video! I just found out this is something under the glass, I thought it is just dirt that needs to be cleaned. Thank you very much, this is somewhat easy to fix, I believe there is some instructions how to take off the screen, and how to glue it back on. Also, the best time to replace spinning drive with an SSD.

[@aleja-e4j]

Great video, did anybody know where i can buy those layer screen filters (for real)? one of the white filters have black dots..

[@AndalusFurniture]

if the dust come into the screen, is it possible to vaccume this dust by a vaccume cleaner ? hope someone try this and tell us the right spot to vaccume it from ?

[@StudioHM]

Thanks a lot for the information!

[@costica1234]

Do you think using the vacuum cleaner on the lower vents would prevent this issue from happening? I’ve just bought a 27 inch iMac one month ago and used to vacuum cleaner right now. I obviously switched the machine off (and even unplugged it) when doing so. I’m also cleaning my desk daily and have a cover that I put on the iMac at night. All to prevent the dust from coming in... Any other suggestions to keep the dust away? I hope I will never have to open up the machine, but if need be, I have a great tutorial here for reference. Thanks a lot for your super informative video! 🔝

[@tronbru]

Great instruction ! Mine is spot free now

[@jamesbond-xf1mu]

Thank you Tyler, I recently bought a demo IMAC Pro and it has the same problem static residue, and 1 more thing i, have you experience a slight bleeding on the edge ? and should i sent it for warranty?

[@benrosenfeld1662]

Please put this at the top of your video description! :)

[@kirankiranmishra]

Thank you so much 🙂🙏🏻

[@deaosatori216]

I have the same dust issue with an iMac Pro. Screen replaced twice by Apple

[@bobceffo]

thanks!

[@teodorgirnita1851]

Guys this is it for 27' Slim model ? I have a Late 2012 27' Thin.

[@Reldeifekirneh]

yes

[@9oohee]

thanks man! you save my imac!

[@iaagg]

Can you buy the glass covering of the display if it is cracked?

[@Reldeifekirneh]

no, you'll have to buy a whole assembly.

[@ASMRadiance]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I’m upset because I’ve only had my iMac for barely 2 years and these “spots” appeared on exactly the bottom two corners recently. Going to try this if/when they get worse and more distracting because right now they are small enough to ignore for time being. can’t afford screen replacement or repair right now with COVID-19 but need my computer for online classes also due to COVID-19. 😭 thanks again!

[@katspajamaz]

SAME!! I have the i7 processor with 32 gb of RAM and I'm SO SCARED to fix it myself...this is so annoying

[@ASMRadiance]

Kat I know me too!!! Ugh!!

[@caaroosiin]

Did you fix it? Mine has them and I’m so scared of fixing it 😭

[@ASMRadiance]

@@caaroosiin I haven’t tried to fix it yet! They are a little bigger now but still not too bad 🥺 I’m scared to break it

[@johnjockerjocker]

Can you just put vacuum cleaner near the sides where the dust is and sort of suck it out? I am afraid to open my iMac cuz its too dusty in my apartment and repair services are little pricy) what do you think?

[@MusicPerson233]

How'd that work out for yoy

[@johnjockerjocker]

@@MusicPerson233 Haven’t tried)

[@zanedavid5362]

After some doing research it seems like a very common problem and it's smoke residue from the fans not expelling all of the smoke produced inside of the iMac.

[@ademiralimanovic2349]

Thank you!

[@wrabit1]

What year is your imac?

[@TysTech]

2017

[@Tkivo]

it's amazing how no one in the apple store will mention this. either you pay a ridiculous amount of money for 'repair' or they charge you a new screen.

[@junaidsiddiquemusic]

Hey, my problem is a bit different, I have cloudy patches on both sides but along with that, I can see the whole monitor (bottom, left, and ride) side near the bezels it is becoming slightly red in color. My machine is a 2017 5K iMac. Shall I do the same? What do you say?

[@Vanessa_1989]

Oh my goodness!!! thank you so much! I am pretty sure a candle contributed to mine doing this. oops

[@tylerjones45]

Big thanks saves me from buying a whole new screen for a 2010imac

[@samuely1-v3z]

My late 2013 iMac 27” got some yellow and dark on bottom, will this methods help ?

[@TysTech]

I don’t believe this method will work for a 2013 model, but I’m not 100% sure to tell you the truth

[@alexanderkim7241]

is this the same procedure for imac 5k 2019?

[@Reldeifekirneh]

yes

[@SevenDeMagnus]

Thanks. I have this dust again at the bottom with my Late 2015 5K iMac (bought in 2016) and Apple already replaced it once but it came back but I can't have it replaced by Apple, again for free- I wish I bought the extended warranty on time (not less than a month before the 1 year warranty expired). Don't use compressed air, it could contain acetone or alcohol which will damage the LCD's diffuser which could be made of acetate. I wish, even for out of warranty 5K iMacs, Apple would replace all 5K iMac screens that have this dust issue at the bottom (dust coming into the weep holes that equalize the pressure, like the weeps hols of airplane windows). It's definitely a design flaw. We should band together and create a website to petition that Apple replaced our screen (hopefully if they do, it's a redesigned on, else it'll come back.) God bless, Proverbs 31

[@dariom4159]

2019 iMac … Same Issue 😑

[@errormachine5056]

damn it, i'm getting this problem now. it looks like finger prints inside the glass. i'm a little too nervous to take off the screen as my imc pro (2017) cost me $8000 CAD and i'm not rich. i was a once in a lifetime purchase and i dont want to fuck it up. ii'd also add that i did have a windows PC before and hated the lshit out of it. this problem is still 1000 less problems than what i got from windows. i do like my mac, i'm just frustrated with this problem. i wish they repaired easier.

[@mykolakhanko3175]

So many thank - you've saved my nerves and time. I'm just preparing for the HDD to SSD shift and about to open the iMac. So it's just in time tutorial. Maybe you have photos of the display after these cleaning process?

[@TysTech]

Yeah I should have posted some before and after photos in the vid, sorry about that

[@ronniesmith1306]

@@TysTech I am grateful for this video, will fix my imac 2017 5k with this hack. Did you ever get to know why this happens? or if the stains comeback eventually after cleaning them out?

[@kcdirectbuysmart8324]

what I am wondering is how did you figure this out respectfully I remain

[@TysTech]

Desperation. Pure desperation. The issue had become so severe that I was going to need to replace my screen entirely, so I decided to take this one apart and just see what could be done.

[@theodoreralte9674]

thank you sooooo much. I thought it was a fungal thing too. glad if its wipe-able I'll just leave it be lol

[@SevenDeMagnus]

Hi. Thanks. I wish Apple would admit this design flaw and replace the 5K and 4K 10-bit color LG monitors with a revision 2 or better version, regardless of warranty and model, free of charge. They'll still have a lot of change with the US$T market capitalization. I wish they kept the magnet design, instead of this newer sticky tape so you can easily clean it and put the glass back on, easily. I wish I got the AppleCare extended warranty (paid in installments with zero percent interest, if possible). Is there a movement to make Apple legally replace all our 5K and 4K monitors that has this bleed hole problem (where the dust enters)? They need to use their US$Trillions to make long time, loyal customers happy. God bless, Revelation 21:4

[@kirtancreative]

GREAT VIDEO BUT IT SEEMS TOO SCARY TO HANDLE THIS FIX

[@getupsolucoesmultimedia1638]

Definitly Its a design error! Im a iMac pro user that had already replaced 2 screens under warranty, and already have the same problem again. After One year of use, the problem is the! Its a shame that a equipment that costs 5000€ have this kind of problem. Apple need to think in change every screens for a new version!!

[@ronniesmith1306]

25 000 + views and just 469 likes. These ungrateful mfers watching and not liking the video. Thanks Ty's Tech. I am grateful for this video, will fix my imac 2017 5k with this hack. Did you ever get to know why this happens?

[@linguatonica9782]

you give a solution but you did not show what the issue is when light is on; my monitor has a problem; is it the same? Listening ain't watching.

[@dietmarpfeffer4874]

instructions unclear. used the scissors to cut the paper and put vinegar on the dust spot (makes it dust free for a while).

[@martinofenzi858]

Same problem. Nuke apple.